Girls Inc. Press Release Archive

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2014 – Girls Inc., the nonprofit that inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold, will be sending six representatives to the Dec. 4 test launch of NASA’s Orion spacecraft at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. They include Girls Inc. President and CEO Judy Vredenburgh and five leaders from Girls Inc. affiliates who partner with Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] in delivering science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming to girls. The additional Girls Inc. representatives include:

New York, NY (November 10, 2014) — Girls Inc. is excited to announce its partnership with Glamour on the magazine brand's new global philanthropic initiative, The Girl Project, which will raise funds to break down the barriers to secondary education for young women all over the world.

Girls Inc. was selected for its work providing girls across the U.S. and Canada with a safe environment, research-based programming, and trained staff mentors to ensure girls make healthy decisions, succeed academically, set goals that include higher education, and develop life skills for adulthood.

At Monday’s 2014 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, Fargana, a Girls Inc. girl from New York City, joined 10 schoolgirls from around the world who have overcome obstacles to achieve in school on stage to launch The Girl Project.

New York, NY (October 1, 2014) - Bea Lurie, President and CEO of Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, has been elected to the National Board of Girls Inc., the organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Lurie will serve as a Regional Professional Representative.

Lurie joined Girls Inc. of Chattanooga in 2007 as President and CEO. Under her leadership, the organization boasts a 100% success rate of high school girls going on to higher education, increased the number of girls ages 6-8 served by more than 30% and service hours by 200%, diversified funding sources, and increased annual revenue by over $250,000.

The new partnership will pair Lockheed Martin mentors with girls ages 9-12

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2014 – Girls Inc., the nonprofit that inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold, has received a one year, $500,000 grant from Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to strengthen its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming for 500 girls ages 9-12.

Lockheed Martin’s new financial commitment comes on the heels of a successful 2013 pilot program, which paired program participants with Lockheed Martin mentors at five Girls Inc. locations. At the conclusion of that program, girls reported increased interest in studying STEM, positive experiences with female role models and a heightened awareness that a STEM career is a good choice for girls.

SEATTLE (August 11, 2014) – Today, Nordstrom announced the launch of the company’s first-ever private label give-back brand, Treasure&Bond, which will be available in the TBD department at 86 stores around the country and on nordstrom.com. Drawing from classic wardrobe staples – think washed denim, soft plaid shirts, tees and moto jackets – Treasure&Bond offers customers an updated, lived-in and vintage feel, at a great price; for example, all denim is under $100. Five percent of net profits of Treasure&Bond will go to nonprofits that work to empower women and girls.

August 5, 2014 (New York, NY) – Girls Inc. is launching a national campaign to call attention to the very serious issues facing girls growing up in North America and the unique solutions Girls Inc. offers.
Many will be surprised to learn that in the United States today:

• 1/4 of all girls don’t finish high school
• 3/10 will be pregnant before age 20
• 1/5 will experience childhood sex abuse
• 78% are unhappy with their bodies

The campaign, created by MARC USA, tells the story of these disturbing statistics in the words of girls themselves. TV spots end with the girls’ affirmation that with Girls Inc. in their corner, they will fight for themselves and win. The core message of “fuel her fire and she will change the world” reflects the organization’s core belief in supporting each girl’s inherent strengths.

Through 86 affiliates across the U.S. and Canada, Girls Inc. provides a holistic, in-depth approach that combines mentoring, year-round programming and highly-skilled professional staff in safe, girl-only environments with the mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

(NEW YORK, NY) June 19, 2014 — Girls Inc. proudly announces that today they join Google and fellow supporters, including Chelsea Clinton, Girl Scouts of the USA, TechCrunch, Seventeen, Mindy Kaling, MIT Media Lab, and National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), to kick off Made with Code. The initiative will aim to inspire millions of girls to learn to code, and to help them see coding as a means to pursue their dream careers.

Girls Inc. will host coding parties reaching thousands of girls with an introduction to coding, building upon programming where girls explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as part of their lives and potential career options. In addition, an intensive coding program will also be piloted in early 2015.

Made with Code will also feature stories of women and girl coders who are creating a diverse array of projects with code, as well as introductory coding projects that can help build girls’ confidence and show them they can code.

On Sunday we celebrate the dads and father figures in our lives — men who provide for their families, patch skinned knees, coach our Little League teams, and stand as role models. While father-son relationships are often emphasized and are incredibly important, we must always remember how much our daughters are watching us, too.

We don’t often realize how critical a role we play as fathers, uncles, and male mentors to girls. Today, girls continue to encounter significant obstacles to their well-being and success, particularly around teen pregnancy, high school completion, body image, and preventing violence. These issues belong not just to girls; they affect our families and communities, and where we as men can make a huge difference.

New York, NY - April 25, 2014 — Girls Inc. is thrilled to announce that Arianna Lopez, 17, is named a “Hero For Change” at the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards on Saturday, April 26. Arianna is being recognized for her leadership in highlighting the risks smoking holds for her community and helping make Carpinteria (CA) a smoke-free city.

As a young girl, Arianna battled illness, including a head injury at age five. At Girls Inc., Arianna has built resilience, a support network of friends and mentors, and skills to become an advocate and a community leader. She has completed over 2,600 community service hours. Arianna spent six years working to ban smoking including researching, attending trainings, connecting with local businesses, educating community members, and speaking at City Council meetings. She also helped write, produce, and appear in a PSA around the issue.

“Arianna embodies our mission of being strong, smart, and bold, and demonstrates how with the right support, girls can achieve and change their communities for the better,” Victoria Juarez, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. “Arianna is an incredible girl who is fighting for a positive future for herself and others every day, and we thank Radio Disney for celebrating her.”

New York, NY; Houston, TX - April 17, 2014 — Lemonade Day and Girls Inc. are joining together in a national strategic partnership in order to train girls in entrepreneurship and teach them basic economic literacy and business skills. Supported by Google for Entrepreneurs' #40Forward initiative, this partnership makes Lemonade Day's entrepreneurship program available to Girls Inc. affiliates across the U.S. and Canada.

Girls ages 8-18 years old will gain first-hand experience in planning, opening, and running their own small business – the iconic American lemonade stand. Using Lemonade Day's step-by-step lessons, trained Girls Inc. staff will guide girls through the planning, budgeting, investment, procurement, marketing, and selling processes to achieve self-defined goals.

“Experience is the best teacher. Through our partnership with Lemonade Day, Girls Inc. is providing girls new hands-on experiences that help them develop skills to draw upon in the future,” said Judy Vredenburgh, Girls Inc. President and CEO. “Learning how to set goals, make a plan, solve problems, create and stick to a budget, address real-life challenges, and earn money as a result of their hard work solidifies critical economic lessons. Today's Lemonade Day participants can become tomorrow's entrepreneur.”

Donations from sales of Teavana® Oprah Chai Tea will support Girls Inc. in delivering more life-changing programs and opportunities for girls

NEW YORK, NY - March 24, 2014 — Girls Inc. is thrilled to announce it was selected by Oprah Winfrey to benefit from the sale of Teavana® Oprah Chai, a new tea available at Starbucks and Teavana stores beginning April 29 across the U.S. and Canada.

The announcement was made by Oprah Winfrey and Howard Schultz, Chairman, President and CEO of Starbucks, at the Starbucks annual shareholders’ meeting on March 19. Oprah Winfrey personally developed the tea with Teavana’s leading teaologist Naoko Tsunoda.

“Girls Inc. is honored to be chosen by Oprah Winfrey and Starbucks as a partner in advancing opportunities for girls to discover their unique talents and strengths and realize a brighter future,” said Judy Vredenburgh, Girls Inc. President and CEO. “We are committed to promoting the ability of all girls to achieve academic success and higher education, and we are thankful for Oprah’s and Starbucks’ leadership in supporting our mission.”

Proceeds from the sales of Teavana® Oprah Chai will support educational opportunities for youth through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. In addition to Girls Inc., three other organizations will also benefit: National CARES Mentoring Movement, Pathways to College, and the U.S. Dream Academy.

NEW YORK - February 2014 – Girls Inc. is proud to announce that we received the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s premier charity evaluating agency. Our rating, the highest rank designated by Charity Navigator, symbolizes the Girls Inc. commitment to sound fiscal management, accountability and transparency. By providing up-to-date and in-depth information on non-profit organizations, Charity Navigator aims to educate donors in an effort to maximize philanthropic gifts that impact people and communities around the world.

Take a closer look at what the Girls Inc. 4-star rating from Charity Navigator means.

NEW YORK - February 2014 – The Girls Inc. Eureka! Evaluation Report demonstrating our commitment to providing girls with engaging, innovative programs that address the STEM gender gap and boost girls' college readiness was released in February 2014. It is the result of a collaboration between ten affiliates, the Research Department, and the Program and Training Services Department at Girls Inc.

This report tracks progress of girls in both the first and second year of Eureka! It is part of our ongoing effort measuring the success of girls in our programming and a follow up to the preliminary 2013 report. Evaluation will continue with these cohorts as they progress throughout Eureka! years two and three respectively.

NEW YORK - February 2014 – Despite the growing need for qualified STEM professionals in our workforce and economic opportunities provided by these careers, women — and particularly women of color — continue to be underrepresented in these fields.

Girls Inc. is committed to showing girls the opportunities available in STEM, giving them access to hands-on activities and diverse role models, and preparing them for the rigorous work, potential barriers, and exciting rewards ahead of them. We held a Q&A with Lori Bryant, M.D., a Girls Inc. alumna, and four scientists from global healthcare leader Merck & Co. Inc. (Colena Johnson DVM, MS, Samina Kanwar, Ph.D., Bach-Yen Nguyen, M.D., Caroline Thompson, MS) to discuss how we can encourage more girls in STEM and how mentors played a key role in their success.

NEW YORK - January 29, 2014 – Girls Inc. applauds President Barack Obama for his recognition of the economic instability experienced by too many women and girls in his 2014 State of the Union Address and his call to increase college access and end the gender wage gap.

In serving many girls who are first generation college students and some who are also first generation Americans, we understand the obstacles that can prevent even the hardest-working child from attending college. We also see how supporting them on their road to college helps secure a better future for them, their families, and their communities. We thank the President and First Lady Obama for their ground-breaking efforts to boost college accessibility as a pathway to economic security, especially for low-income youth and youth of color. Girls — and all American youth — deserve a fighting chance to realize their dreams and fulfill their potential as emerging leaders and innovators.

NEW YORK - January 8, 2014 — Girls Inc. will partner with the “Million Women Mentors” (MWM) initiative. MWM will launch Jan. 8, 2014 during National Mentoring Month, in Washington, D.C at the National Press Club. The initiative will support the engagement of one million science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) mentors – male and female – to increase the interest and confidence of girls and young women to pursue and succeed in STEM degrees and careers.

For over 25 years, Girls Inc. has developed girls’ enthusiasm for and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with Girls Inc. Operation SMART. Through hands-on activities, girls explore, ask questions, persist, and solve problems. By interacting with women and men pursuing STEM careers, girls come to view these careers as exciting and realistic options for themselves.

NEW YORK - December 2013 – Girls Inc. affiliates across the U.S. and Canada deliver programming, which encourages girls to develop enthusiasm for and skills in STEM through hands-on activities think like scientists. Through Operation SMART, girls establish meaningful mentoring relationships with leaders in STEM fields. Affiliates also partner with colleges and community corporations for girls to explore careers and higher education options in STEM industries.

Adriana, a Girls Inc. alumna from Georgia and current student at Yale University on a full scholarship, spoke about how Girls Inc. helped her cope with her father's PTSD, take on leadership roles, explore STEM, and thrive at a competitive high school.

We were thrilled to partner with Mrs. Obama on her initiative to encourage more low-income student to attend college.

On November 14, 2012, we recognized four incredible leaders from around the entertainment community and four outstanding Girls Inc. National Scholars at our 17th Girls Inc. Los Angeles Celebration Luncheon. Held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Luncheon brings together leaders from across the entertainment industry who embody the Girls Inc. mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

NEW YORK - September 24, 2013 – Girls Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold, and Discovery Education, the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, announced a partnership to provide Discovery Education’s STEM Camp resources to girls across the United States.

President & CEO Judy Vredenburgh and Girls Inc. National Scholar Speak on the Freedom to Prosper

NEW YORK - August 22, 2013 – Girls Inc. President & CEO Judy Vredenburgh and Girls Inc. National Scholar Shantia McCarthur joined social change leaders and current and former U.S. Presidents in honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of freedom on Wednesday August 28, 2013 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

NEW YORK - August 6, 2013 - A new CDC report shows a small but significant decrease in obesity among preschoolers from low-income households in 18 states. This decline is particularly worthy of celebration because preschoolers who are overweight or obese are five times more likely to be so as adults.

It is also a critical opportunity for examining what works and invigorating efforts across youth and family service organizations, as the report also found obesity rates held steady in 20 states and increased in three.

Innovative Approach Brings Investing Know-How and Confidence to More Girls Across U.S.

NEW YORK - March 20, 2013 – After three years of creating hands-on investment experience for girls, ING U.S. and Girls Inc., announced that they will expand their innovative education effort to serve more girls in more locations throughout the U.S. The program expansion includes the addition of five new ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge teams and the creation of a new one-year program that will take place at 19 locations. For more information and images, visit the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge media kit.

NEW YORK - June 28, 2012 - Girls Inc. is proud to announce the inclusion of the organization and President and CEO Judy Vredenburgh in the inaugural STEMconnector™ 100 Women Leaders in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) publication.

Girls Inc. Alumna Honored as White House Champion of Change for Encouraging Girls in STEM Fields

NEW YORK - December 7, 2011 – Girls Inc. congratulates Bianca Bailey, an alumna of Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas and past Girls Inc. National Scholar, on her selection as a Champion of Change by the White House. Bianca is one of 12 recipients of the Champions of Change honor for being leaders in the effort to recruit and retain girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

NEW YORK - September 2, 2011 - Girls Inc. is honored to be ranked atop high-impact youth serving nonprofit by Philanthropedia, a GuideStar research organization. Philanthropedia surveyed 88 experts with an average of 19 years' experience for their recommendations. Out of 178 national organizations identified, Girls Inc. ranked fifth of nine top nonprofits.

NEW YORK - January 26, 2011 - Girls Inc. applauds President Barack Obama for his recognition of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and achievement as vital to the success of our nation.

Teams of Girls in Four Cities from New York to Los Angeles To Learn the Basics of Long-Term Investing While Managing $50,000 Virtual Portfolios

Girls to Keep Portfolio Gains in the Form of College Scholarships

NEW YORK - February 12, 2009 - The ING Foundation and Girls Inc., the nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold SM , announced the launch of the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge — an innovative program that will give participating girls practical, hands-on investing experience while allowing them to keep their gains in the form of college scholarships.

With the help and guidance of trained Girls Inc. staff and ING employee volunteers, teams of girls ages 12-18 build and manage diversified, real-time portfolios as part of an integrative investment- and economic-literacy curriculum. The program begins with a one-year pilot in New York City, Denver, and Los Angeles and Alameda counties in California.